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Not the largest of the glens but perhaps one of the most tranquil. Glendun meanders down under the magnificent Glendun Viaduct, past the ancient Mass Rock, the Gloonan Stone, Saint Patrick’s Well to the sleepy village of Cushendall and the remains of Castle Carra.
The Mass Rock is a location where Mass was celebrated in old times before a church was built in the area, and even now, once a year a procession is made from the present church to the old altar. The origin of this beautiful carving is unknown, some people believe it originated from the Scottish Isles whilst others say it is a Runic stone. The Gloonan Stone is said to have been a place where Saint Patrick knelt to pray and indeed this is the explanation given for the smaller of the two holes warn. The second and larger hole in the stone is known as Saint Patrick’s Well, the water is said to have holy powers used to cure warts.
Castle Carra stands almost completely covered in ivy near at the bottom of Glendun. In 1585 Sorely Boy MacDonnell is said to have rescued his son Donnell Gorm from the tower in the castle, when he landed in bay from Scotland.
glen. This estate has been designated an Area of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI) and it has adopted an environmentally friendly policy to ensure the safety of the glen’s natural resources and wildness. As you travel down the glen from the open moor lands of the Antrim Plateau you will enter a silent glen, the road tunnelled by overhanging oak trees meanders down the side off the estate, you will see a haven of wildlife with wild pheasants (I know I seen them on the road), foxes and rabbits. The estate is home Aberdeen Angus/Cross suckler cattle and mainly grey-faced ewes (sheep), it also caters for activities including open days, shooting, river fishing, 4×4 off-road driving and corporate entertainment.
Glenarm is tiny village with narrow little thoroughfares soaked in culture with friendly people, a forest walk and don’t miss Bill & Christina Steenson crafting their jewellery masterpieces in the open workshop/showroom on the main street. The Barbican gate stands proudly in one of the side streets as a reminder of the immense history that surrounds the village.
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Harbor used in 1849 to export iron ore from Glenravel. On the right at the roadside you will see buildings in the rock face that where used in the 1700s by locals as schools and secret places of meeting. Shortly you will arrive at a left turn that will take you into Waterfoot village where you can gain access the beach that is home to the Heron, Shellduck, Kingfisher, Ringed Plover, Oystercatcher, Gannets and Eider Ducks. The most interesting of these is the Ringed Plover that in order to protect it’s young from danger will pretend to have a broken wing thus luring the predator away from the nest, whilst this may look humorous it is obviously a life and death matter for the young vulnerable chicks in the nest.
wildlife with a thick carpet of trees and hedgerows that surround the narrow winding road. At the bottom of the glen is Ballycastle Golf Course that was once a regular site for battles between the local warriors, the MacDonnells, MacQuillans and McNeills. Also nestled on this ancient battlefield is Bonamargy Friary where indeed there are many of these warriors buried.
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